Florida Barrel Racing Hearing Extended

Pari-mutuel barrel racing hearing held until August.

June 29, 2012

The final hearing on whether the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering allowed “pari-mutuel barrel racing” as a new gambling product in Florida without enabling legislation, regulatory hearings or public input will be extended by two days, both of which are likely to be scheduled consecutively during August 2012.

Originally scheduled for only three days in April 2012, the administrative proceeding reached its seventh day of testimony Friday, June 29, 2012.

For the hearing, Gretna Racing LLC co-owners Marc Dunbar and David Romanik are actively litigating as “intervenors” on behalf of Florida's Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, which granted their North Florida-based pari-mutuel facility the license in question that was used to conduct “pari-mutuel barrel racing.”

Along with officials from the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, among those who testified this week were former Thoroughbred racetrack Gulfstream Park CEO Doug Donn and AQHA Executive Director of Racing Trey Buck.

Even though Florida law requires pari-mutuels to hold live horse racing in order to operate 365-day cardrooms and slot machines, Gretna Racing LLC has continued to operate cardrooms and pursue its slot machine license despite the controversy and ensuing litigation over the legitimacy of its racing license award.